Good evening, folks! We’re going to be taking a hands-on look at five of the best cases for the Google Nexus 4 today – cases that provide style, protection and functionality in varying measures. Whether you’re looking for a thin and light case that’ll preserve the Nexus 4’s svelte waistline or a comprehensive package with all the bells and whistles, we’ll have a Nexus 4 case for you. Let’s get right into it, shall we?

We’ll kick of this top 5 with this genuine leather flip case made by PDair. The case is nice to look at and to hold in the hand, with that proper leather feel and finish that you’d expect. Putting in my Nexus 4, I was impressed by how tightly the phone was held in place with the two side arms and top hooks – there’s no way that this phone was going anywhere.

The phone in the case was quite a bit bigger, and didn’t fit in my pocket so well, but that’s kind of the price that you pay for full screen protection. A nice case if you’re a fan of leather and the vertical flip form factor.

This next case is quite a simple one – a FlexiShield Skin, offering a good mix of flexibility and light protection in a rather thin package. The clear model I tested offered a kind of futuristic look, with the transparent plastic adding a nice effect to the bezel of the phone.

On the back, I was less of a fan – you cover up the holographic effect present on the phone and instead have a kind white shade that doesn’t fit the phone. Still, that covering of the back glass ensures that you’re covering up the phone’s biggest vulnerability. A good budget option with few frills – and the ‘Smoke’ colourway might look more nondescript.

I rather liked the style of this case – a blue design with a wave running down the back. This covered up the blackness rather better than the previous case, and added a bit of its own fashion to the piece.

I like blue cases in general, and this one was no exception as I felt it complemented the phone’s excellent display well. The PDair TPU felt comfortable and easy to grip in the hand, with little added bulk. A good option if you’re looking for minimal protection and a cool look in many potential colours.

This case is the functionality king of our top 5, offering not only wallet-style pockets but also stand functionality. The plastic core of this case offers a good amount of security, but it was noticeably easier to install and remove the phone – not necessarily a good or bad thing, just a difference.

The stand works by connecting the snap enclosure backwards, allowing for a landscape mode that isn’t too adjustable but still works well for movies and games. This case only really falls down in its bulk, which is fairly considerably compared to the other cases on this list. Still, if you’ve got substantial pockets or you want to use the included belt clip, a good option.

The ArmourDillo was my runaway favourite, this time around. The case is a marriage of a flexible TPU case with an impact-resistant exoskeleton. That combination provides a lot of grip, and gives me a lot of confidence that my phone would be undamaged even from a drop onto concrete from a good height. While this case is a bit thicker than normal TPU cases, I feel that the additional protection is quite worthwhile.

The ArmourDillo also has an impressive added feature – a rock-solid plastic stand embedded in the back that works in landscape orientation. This is perfect for watching YouTube videos on the train, without needing to pack your own stand. All in all, the ArmourDillo is a brilliant little case. From the silly name to the suitably organic look of the case, I really fell in love with this case and I’m sure you will too!

Conclusion

Thanks for checking out this top 5. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to share them below. You could also share your own recommendations – which cases have worked well for you?